Cardboard Children – Goodbye

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It’s been six long years since Cardboard Children began here on the world’s best computer games website, and it’s time for the column to come to an end. Yes, I’ve packed my bags, and I’m standing by the RPS door, ready to leave. My hand is on the doorknob. But before I go, I’d like to point you towards some of my favourite pieces during the run, so we can all have a little nostalgia trip together.

THE END

So why is it the end? Well, there’s really no need for Cardboard Children anymore. When this column started, there weren’t that many people reviewing board games. But these days it’s almost like a little industry of its own – there are entire networks of people reviewing these games now, my goodness, and so you are all very well served indeed. There’s no need for me to be here, really, other than to add my own voice to the pack. And that’s not really necessary, I don’t think.

AN APOLOGY

I’d like to apologise for a few things. First of all, I’d like to apologise for constantly saying I’d do one thing then doing another. I’d promise to review one game next week, then another would appear instead. I’d promise to transform the column into an existential review column written under the dark influence of a sentient tree, and then do a joke column about wasps or something instead. I suppose I just always saw this column as a playful space, and I played in it.

I’d also like to apologise for costing you all so much money with my amazing recommendations.

MY FAVOURITES

I leave you with a selection of my favourite pieces. This isn’t really me blowing my own trumpet here – it’s more like me inviting you upstairs to look at my trumpets in case you missed them.

THIS was maybe the funniest column I wrote – and it’s a review of the great Sherlock Holmes: Consulting Detective.

THIS ONE is an experimental column reviewing a game that didn’t exist. Except, it DOES exist, right?

HERE is a link to my Top 50 Boardgames of All Time videos, directed by my wee lassie. And these were a blast to make. And let’s be honest, they’re cute. The list is out of date now, though. So many changes.

AND THIS is a statement about games, why we play them, and probably the best thing I did here.

And – look, hey, I did loads of other stuff too. Six years, every week? Must be close to 300 columns. I’m sure there’s plenty of old stuff for you to dig into and enjoy if you fancy pouring a little liquor on the Cardboard Children grave.

SO, GOODBYE

So, this is the end. I’d like to thank everybody at RPS over the years for making me feel like part of the team, and for letting me write whatever I wanted. I’d like to thank you readers, too, for many kind comments over these hundred of weeks. Thanks for indulging my nonsense.

Where now for me? Well…

I’m doing a little project with my daughter called Land Of Excitement. It’s a blog that she edits and I just write for. And we’ll be talking about all sorts of exciting things, including board games, video games, toys, films and such. And it’s a family friendly blog that kids and parents can safely check out. My wee girl is 9, and she’s excited to run her own wee site and work on some writing about the things she enjoys. And I’m excited to be working for her. So, if you want to keep an eye on my opinions on board games and stuff, that’s where you’ll find me! There will also be other stuff there too, including videos and silly things. It’d be sweet if you checked us out from time to time. We’ve also got a little Patreon RIGHT HERE to support it, for reasons I explain over there.

And now, that is it. I’ll leave the final word to my good friend, Solomon Kane star James Purefoy.

“Hi, James Purefoy here. It’s amazing to think that my friend Rab has spent six years of his life writing this nonsense about kids toys. In that same space of time I’ve been in numerous films and played the villain in a hit US TV show. I have nothing but respect for his commitment to his readers. Now, if you’ll excuse me, this jetpack won’t fly itself to the Playboy Mansion. Farewell! And Stay Dicey!”

There is this beautiful little website I recently found: http://landofexcitement.com
It’s an adorable little website edited by a 9-year old(!), and they talk about everything from board-games to toys to netflix series.

the article YOUR IN SPACE got me to buy my first designer boardgame and into the hobby. Ascending Empires is still my favourite boardgame some 300 later. Back then boardgames seemed forgotten to me and having coverage on a mainstream pc gaming website was really something else. Thanks for all the articles Rob, it would be good to see the occasional guest piece as I love your writing.

Technically I think “fat” actually ought to be correct, as fit in this sense appears to have been a misreading of sit – one of those rare occasions where the old-style ‘s’ gets taken at face value. Don’t think I’ve ever seen it used though.

Good luck with everything you (and your family) do going forward. There may be a lot more coverage of board games these days, but your voice was unique and entertaining. Thank you for all the great reads!

oh my god, I feel like part of my life is gone. and also old, six years already? I’ve even read Discworld books during that time, something that I hadn’t before. thanks for introducing me (and, consequently, many of my friends) to this wonderful hobby.

So long and best of luck. Not much of a board gamer myself, but I’ve gotten one game off of your recommendations and intend to get more. You were always a delight to read though, so your column will be missed.

Cheers Rab, it was completely due to this column that I first got into board games proper, then all my friends, and now I have shelves of boxes of games that I’ve never played to upset the wife with. All the best and thanks!

Your extremely enthusiastic posts around 2012-2013 is what is at least 50% responsible for my room running out of space because of board games. Back then I was having another look at this hobby called board games and luckily/randomly RPS also happened to have this feature called Cardboard Children about the very thing. I bought my first board games entirely based on Cardboard Children and my wallet has never since recovered.

So thank you Rab for these years! I will miss your enthusiasm and unique style. Board games media is in a much better place than six years ago but you were always my favourite :)

Thanks for the last six years Rab, you’ve written some absolutely wonderful things – not just informative and entertaining, but at times genuinely moving. Cardboard Children has ranked right up there with the very best of RPS over the years, and the internet will be a lesser place without it.

Good luck with LoE and all your other projects in the future, and thank you once again.

Sad to see you go Rab. Thanks so much for all your recommendations over the years.

I most definitely wouldn’t have started boardgaming if it wasn’t for this column; thanks to your insistent enthusiasm for a few particular games I took the plunge a few years ago and never looked back. The boardgame virus spread quickly around my friends, and I now regularly play dozens of different games with a couple of groups. Our most recent acquisition is Forbidden Stars and oh my, I think it’s the best yet.

But oh, where will I go to get my boardgame recommendations now?! After all, I don’t trust that shifty Quinns fellow.

I got back into the hobby thanks to your DUNGEONQUEST article.
Can’t say I agree with every game you supported since, but your writings have always be a joy to read.
Many thanks and good luck in your future endeavors!!!

Thank you for the time! (and all the amazing recommendations I never could afford before they sold out)

I bet the board gaming comeback even surpass the geekery in the 80/90’s with the amount of stuff surrounding the hobby now. People even do Let’s Play videos and PnP RPG campaigns with thousands of views (damn millennial voyeurism).

Rarely did I read these columns, if only for one simple reason – I ain’t got money to buy these blasted games you write about, so, why bother and why, well, torture myself by creating interest for something that I can’t have.

Still, I read them here and there and they were interesting.

Anyway, seeing this column go is definitely a big thing – an end of an era, I feel. It will feel odd to come to this website and no longer see Cardboard Children.

May you have good luck in your future projects; the one you’re doing with your daughter sounds very amusing and unique (as well as excellent from a parenting/family bonding perspective) – so, may it all go well!

Wow, I hope you are successful in future endeavors. Cardboard Children put the bug in my ear about modern boardgames and for that I thank you while my wallet curses at you.

Evertime I saw a new entry to the column I was genuinely ezcited to read it. Your top 50 with your daughter was adorable, I look forward to sharing my games with my son. Not yet though, he is just 3 years old.

I’m sorry this is one article that’s been here that I really just left behind as i scroll through the various reviews…till now.. so anyway sorry to hear its going as I’ll miss having to scroll by it. ;)